Selective two-speed hand tool



Sept. 4, 1956 M, F STAHL SELECTIVE TWO-SPEED HAND TOOL Filed sept. 23,1954 las JNVENToR. MILTON E 4`STAHL.

,-IIIII mf United States Patent @l f' SELECTIVE TWO-SPEED HAND TOOLMilton F. Stahl, Tallmadge, Ohio Application September 23, 1954, SerialNo. 457,891

3 Claims. (Cl. 81--73) This invention relates to multiple speedwrenches, and in particular relates to a two speed wrench of the typeoperated with a certain relatively great force at given relatively lowspeed for initially loosening a nut on a bolt, for example, and thenoperating the same with less force but at a higher speed in the interestof saving time.

One object of the invention is to provide a speed wrench of the typedescribed which is automatically adjustable from one speed to anothersimply by changing the manual pressure applied to the wrench in thedirection of work being turned thereby.

` Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, compact, andeasy to operate tool for the purposes described.

Other objects of the invention will be manifest from the following briefdescription and the accompanying drawings.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a front view, partly broken away and in section, of a speedwrench embodying the features of the invention, with the parts thereofin position for high speed operation of the wrench. V

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssection of theright-hand end of the wrench .as viewed in Figure l, illustrating aclutch mechanism in the disengaged condition of Figure 1 for said highspeed operation of the wrench.

Figure 3 is an enlarged end view of the hand-grip at the left of Figure1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lefthand end of thewrench as viewed in Figure 1, but one segment of a hollow hand-gripbeing removed to show gear means therein in non-meshing relation for lowspeed operation of the Wrench.

Figure 5 is an enlarged front elevation of the righthand end of thewrench as viewed in Figure l, with the clutch mechanism in engagedcondition.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 to 3, there is illustrated atwo-speed wrench, embodying the features of the invention, in conditionfor high speed operation of the same. The numeral designates a curvedmember having a U-shaped central hand-grip portion 11 and curvatelyconnected straight end portions 12 and 13 which extend in outwardlyopposite directions to be on a common axis. A handle 14 is suitablyrotatably received on the central hand-grip portion 11. Member 10 may beof hollow rigid material, such as steel tubing, and has rotatably andaxially slidably received in passageway 16 thereof a length of exiblebut inextensible material, such as steel cable 17.

On the straight end portion 13 of member 10 may be clutch means 18,including a clutch part 20 xed on the end portion 13 and a clutch part21 in the form of a sleeve, rotatably and slidably received on said endportion 13 outwardly of the xed clutch part, to be axially shiftabletoward and from clutching engagement of teeth 22 and 23 on the clutchparts 20 and 21, respectively (see Figures 1, 2 and 5). Aixed in theouter end of Patented Sept. 4, 1956 sleeve 21 as by means of a pin 19extended through the sleeve, may be a work-turning part 24, having anoutwardly projecting squared end 25 for ready reception of a wrenchsocket (not shown) of known type, the inner end of said part 24 having ametal bushing 26 secured therein by said pin 19, and the bushing 26 inturn having the corresponding end 27 of cable 17 attached thereto, as

by silver soldering. For maintaining the clutch parts 20 and 21 normallydisengaged, as shown in Figures l and 2, a compression spring 28 isyieldingly engaged between opposing ends of member portion 13 andwork-turning part 24. v

A hollow hand-grip or knob 31 may have a boss 32 provided with a bore33, in which the straight portion 12 of tubular member 10 is rotatablyreceived. For retaining the hand-grip 31 against axial movement on saidmember portion 12, an annular recess 34 extending radially outwardlyfrom bore 33, is adapted to receive a complementally shaped rib 35 whichis integral with member 10. To facilitate assembly, hand-grip 31 is madewith two halves 36 and 37, secured together at the boss 32, asnby meansof screws 38, 3S, and further by a bevel gear 39 fastened, as by meansof screws 41, to a llat outer wall 42 of the hand-grip (see Figure 3).Bevel gear 39 is axially aligned with the straight member end portions12 and 13, and the end portion 12 has an integral extension 42, at asubstantial angle to the axis through said end portions, presenting abevel pinion 43 aixed on the corresponding end of cable 17 to benormally in mesh with gear 39 when the clutch 18 is disengaged, as shownin Figures 1 and 2. Thus, upon turning the member 10 about v engaged,the work-turning part or members 24 is operable at relatively highspeed. Conversely, while similarly turning member 16, the work-turningmember 24 is operable at slower speed and with consequently increasedpower, by yieldingly compressing the clutch parts 20 and 21 intoclutching engagement of the teeth 22 and 23 thereof, and by consequentsliding movement of cable 17 pinion 43 is urged out of mesh with gear39. For limiting movement of the cable 17 in member 10, in clutchengaging direction, a ball 45 welded to the outer face of pinion 43 isengageable with an annular wall portion 46 of hand-grip 31 disposedoppositely to said outer face. Movement of the cable in the opposite,gear meshing direction, is limited by engagement of a reduced extension47 of member portion 13 with the inner end of the sleeve 26 inwork-turning part 24 (see Figure 2).

lnuse or operation of the improved Wrench, as for loosening a tight nut,the work-turning part 24 rst has a wrench socket of proper size (notshown) fitted on the squared end 2S. Now with the socket engaged overthe nut, the operator by grasping hand-grip 31 with one hand and handle14 with the other, may turn the tool to rotate the work-turning part andsaid socket. Initially, loosening of the nut, however, is accomplishedwith increased power at relatively slow speed, by applying sufficientaxial pressure upon member 10 toward the work yieldingly to engage theclutch 18, thereby disengaging the gears 39 and 43 and operating thework-turning part directly through member 1G. As soon as the nut hasbeen loosened, it may be more quickly removed, by releasing said axialpressure on the member 10, allowing the spring 28 to disengage clutch1S, with consequent forward movement of the cable 17, which re-engagesthe gears 39 and 43 to drive the work-turning part at increased rotativespeed, indirectly through rotation of cable 17.

Thus there has been provided an improved two-speed wrench whichaccomplishes the objects of the invention, and which operates safelywith a minimum of exposed moving parts.

"Modifications of the invention may be rmorted to With-` out departingfrom the spirit thereof or from the scope of the appended claims.

WhatV claimed Vis LA multiple speed Wrenchrof the typetoroperatingrimedi-turning tool, comprising amember havinga turn ingaxis, means onsaid member for rotating the same aboutsaid,axis,l said member havingapassageway therethrough, a clutch part axially shiftably mounted ona-tool end ofsaid member and aclutch part iixed on said tool end tobeengageable by theshiftable clutch part, workturning means on saidshiftableclutch partfor attachment ofxa `work-turning tool, a hollowhand-gripr rotatably mounted on. the other end of said` member, aexibleelement slidably and rotatably received through said membei'y passagewayandhaving said shiftable clutch part securedotothe corresponding toolendthereof, said iiexible elementhaving an extension thereof within saidhollow handffgrip, Agear means in said hand-grip including a gearaixedonfsaid extension and a gear aixed on the handgrip in axiallycentered relation, said f gear on said exten.- sin being shiftable withsliding movement of the element toward and from a position thereof inwhich said gear means is in driving connection,v and resilient meansnormally yieldingly urging said element to a position in which saidclutch parts are disengaged and said gear means is in said drivingconnection for relatively high speed.roperationof saidWork-turning,means through said element, from an engaged positionfofsaid clutch parts in whchpthe Work-turning means is operated atrelatively lower speed through direct driving connection with saidmember through said clutch parts.

2.7A multiple speed wrench of the type for operating aworkfturning tool,comprising a curved member having a; central Ahand-grip portionandvoiset end portions substantially in a common axis, said memberhaving a passagevvay therethrough, a, clutch part axially shiftablymounted on a tool end of said member and aclutch part xedonrsaid toolend to be'engageable by the shiftable clutch part, Work-turning means onsaid shiftable clutch part for attachment of a work-turning tool, ahollow handgrip rotatably mounted on the other end of said member andhaving a gear aiiixed therein to rotate With thefsame, atflexibleelement slidably androtatably received through said member passagewayand having said shiftable clutchv partv secured to the correspondingtool end thereof, said exible element having a pinion on the end thereofWithin saidhollow hand-grip and shiftable with sliding movement ofrgsaidelement toward and from meshing engagement withsrsaid gear axed on thehand-grip, and means for urging said element to a position in whichVsaid clutch parts are disengaged and said gear and pinion are meshedfor relatively high speed operation of said Work-turning means throughsaid element, from a reversed position in which the work-turning meansis operated at relatively lower speed through direct driving connectionwith said member through said 1clutch parts, said gear and pinion havingcomplementally bevelled teeth, said member having an extensionWithin-said hand-grip positionedpatv-an angle to said axis andsupporting said pinion in cooperating relationship to said gear.

3. A multiple :speed Wrench of the type fproperating a Work-turningtool, comprising a curved tubular member having a central 'hand-gripportion and oppositely outward reversely bent oiset end portionssubstantially in a common axis, said tubular member providing a passage-Way therethrough, clutch means on one saidend portion including `arelatively fixed partthereon-,and a sleeveaxially slidable on the memberfrom andvtowardvy aY position of engagement with said fixed part, saidsleeve and Vi'ixed havinginterengageable portionsforpreventingrelative,rotation ofthe` sleeve on said member in saidposition ot er1-Y gagement, stop means for limiting sliding movement ofsaid, sleeve` apart from said xed-part, spring means within said sleevenormally yieldingly urging said sleeve apart from saidfrixed part aslimited by said.st op-.11 1ear'1s,Work-J turningmeans on saidsleeve asfor attachment of a .workturning tool, a hollow hand-grip rotatablymounted 0n the other. end of said member, aiiexible element slidablyandV rotatably received through saidmember passageway and having saidshiftable sleeve secured to the corresponding toolend-thereof, saidexible element .having an extension thereof within said handfgrip, ,gearmeansin said hand-grip including a gear ailxed on said extension andagear aixed on the hand-grip'in axially centered. relation, said gear onsaid extension being shiftable with ysliding movement of the elementtoward and Vfrom a position.- thereof in which s aid gear means is indriving connection relative movement of said member` and saidsleeve v'drereby being eective for changing the speed -of `operationotsaidWorkfturning means.

References Cited in the le of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS

